MEDIA ROLE MODELS FOR MEN

There has been an amazing transformation in the Papua New Guinea newspaper the Post Courier. It has probably come slowly with the women’s magazine NewAgeWoman and the inclusion of men’s and women’s issues at the hands of women journalists.

They have added a soft touch to an otherwise straightforward and blunt newspaper. The NewAgeWoman had a focus on family and marriage and presented their viewpoint in a non-judgmental way with a touch of humour. At times issues were approached from the point of view of men.

The editors have been Raela Wari and Lillian Basse who have become the newspaper’s secret weapons. The Weekend Courier has developed a gentle touch and begun to focus on both men and women as role models.

Readers have been introduced to committed and happy marriages. A little gender equity among the Post Courier journalists has worked wonders.

The Post Courier has excelled itself this weekend. There have been two stories to shake the consciousness of men and women among the readers. One was about the need for husbands to be present at the birth of their children so as to share the burden with their wife.

There is now an awareness campaign in this country on family planning and the presence of men at births is part of this. Gender equity is creeping up on us in practical and non-judgmental ways. Eat your hearts out UN women advisors.

Presence of men at births would have to give massive culture shock to men of this country. It is a message about sharing the burden of marriage. It has not happened before as the suggestion has never been made before.

Progress is being made if 2000 read the report of Rosalyn Albaniel-Avara. She is a descendant of the long line of Philippino lay missionaries who came to the coast of Papua in the 1800s.

The second report was on the men overseas who look after their children as Mr Mum and allow their wives to work and earn the money for the family. It hits the concept of the “real man”.

This would have to be shocking for many PNG men who would consider these white men to be girly-girly. There are many issues involved here including trust between a husband and wife. That would even be shocking for Australian men as little as 20 years ago.

There is also gender equity in that both men and women contribute to family with a sense that a woman can be more successful in her job while the man is more successful at looking after the children. There is still money for food on the plate.

Times have changed since AIDS Holistics was banned in 2001 for writing a letter critical of the Post Courier for ignoring our letters to the editor on Positive Living.

We wrote that the Post Courier was cold, distant and uncaring. It was published by a sub-editor for which he was severely reprimanded by the then Managing Director Hogworthy.

Over the past 6 years, the Post Courier silence on Positive Living has been deafening. Not even Jamie Maxtone Graham has filled in the gap. Positive Living is about more than just nutrition though nutrition is a key factor.

But a new era of family awareness has come to the Post Courier largely through the caring outlook of women journalists. We congratulate the Post Courier on the warmth that has come to the newspaper over recent times.

This nation will benefit if the Post Courier maintains a focus on role models for men and women.